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Ecological and economic impacts of different irrigation and fertilization practices: case study of a watershed in the southern Iran

Author

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  • Azar Sheikhzeinoddin

    (Shiraz University)

  • Abdoulkarim Esmaeili

    (Shiraz University)

Abstract

Best management practices, such as conservation tillage, the optimum level of irrigation, fertilization, are frequently used to reduce non-point source pollution from agricultural land and improve water quality. In this study, we used the soil and water assessment tool to model the impacts of different irrigation (adjusted to crop need), cropping and fertilization practices on total nitrogen loss. The economic impacts of these practices on crop net farm income were also evaluated. For this purpose, the model was calibrated through comparing model outputs with observations to ensure reliable hydrologic, crop yield and nitrate leaching simulations. The results showed that by reducing water or fertilizer or combination of both, we can reduce nitrate leaching. For wheat and corn, the best scenario was S1n1 (combination between reduction by 10 % of water and nitrogen fertilizer application, simultaneously) and S2n3 (combination of 20 and 30 % reduction in water and fertilizer application), respectively. These scenarios are both ecologically and economically desirable. Also, decreasing nitrogen fertilization by 50 % for corn would decrease the nitrate pollution from 101.1 to 32.3 kg N ha−1; therefore, this strategy is ecologically desirable but economically unsound. So, there are opportunities for environmental decision makers to encourage farmers to implement these strategies. Also, since the nitrogen leaching cannot decrease without a reduction in net farm income for crops such as corn; hence, the losses of farmers should be compensated.

Suggested Citation

  • Azar Sheikhzeinoddin & Abdoulkarim Esmaeili, 2017. "Ecological and economic impacts of different irrigation and fertilization practices: case study of a watershed in the southern Iran," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 19(6), pages 2499-2515, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:19:y:2017:i:6:d:10.1007_s10668-016-9868-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-016-9868-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pushpa Tuppad & Narayanan Kannan & Raghavan Srinivasan & Colleen Rossi & Jeffrey Arnold, 2010. "Simulation of Agricultural Management Alternatives for Watershed Protection," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 24(12), pages 3115-3144, September.
    2. Ziaei, A. N. & Sepaskhah, A. R., 2003. "Model for simulation of winter wheat yield under dryland and irrigated conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 58(1), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Bouraoui, Fayçal & Grizzetti, Bruna, 2008. "An integrated modelling framework to estimate the fate of nutrients: Application to the Loire (France)," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 212(3), pages 450-459.
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    Cited by:

    1. Abolfazl Nasseri, 2023. "Effects of tillage practices on wheat production using groundwater-based irrigation: multidimensional analysis of energy use, greenhouse gases emissions and economic parameters," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(7), pages 7047-7074, July.
    2. Cai, Jinyang & Chen, Yiming & Hu, Ruifa & Wu, Mingyin & Shen, Zhiyang, 2022. "Discovering the impact of farmer field schools on the adoption of environmental-friendly technology," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    3. Jing Li & Ruiyin He, 2021. "Relationships among socioeconomic factors, rice planting method and pesticide use," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 7358-7372, May.

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